Program Manager

Overview

Nortal is a global technology consulting company that combines a strategic approach with technological innovation to deliver complex, mission-critical digital transformations for leading companies and governments worldwide. With a strong belief that work should be meaningful, challenging, and value-driven, we empower our teams to co-create impactful solutions that shape a better future.

Nortal’s Applied Defence R&D acts as an innovation engine, turning complex defence challenges into validated, deployable solutions. By combining cyber resilience, AI, data science, embedded security, and digital engineering, we deliver mission-ready prototypes and architectures. Working with governments, armed forces, industry, and academia, we create sovereign IP, dual-use technologies, and NATO/EU-aligned innovations that reduce risk and accelerate capability delivery.

We are seeking an experienced R&D Program Manager to provide oversight and delivery management across our growing portfolio of European defence R&D initiatives.

Your focus will be on leading the planning, execution, and coordination of multiple flagship projects, ensuring alignment with client needs, consortium partners, and broader EU/NATO defence objectives. Technical and/or domain understanding is essential to align teams, make analytical decisions, and deliver projects of high quality. Join Nortal to be part of a world-class team dedicated to continued success and growth.

If you’re an experienced program or project leader ready to make a strong impact, we’d love to hear from you.

Responsibilities

• Lead the programmatic oversight of multiple complex R&D projects within the European Defence Fund (EDF) and related frameworks
• Manage delivery schedules, milestones, and cross-project dependencies, ensuring projects remain on track and aligned with consortium agreements
• Liaise with European defence partners, ministries, and industry stakeholders, maintaining alignment with EU/NATO capability development priorities
• Drive risk management, quality assurance, and reporting processes across the portfolio
• Ensure long-term exploitation of results, supporting transition from prototypes to operational capability.
  
  
  

Qualifications

• Strong at scope management, risk management, and schedule management
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills across government, industry, and academia
• Ability to manage multinational, multi-disciplinary teams in high-complexity environments
• Understanding of delivery processes and what is applicable when and where
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to anticipate and mitigate risks
• Leadership skills, this includes team motivation, conflict management
• Tools: Project Management tools (JIRA Atlassian, Trello, MS Project, or similar)
• Familiarity with modern productivity or AI-enhanced project tools (e.g., ChatGPT, CoPilot) to streamline decision-making and documentation.
• Excellent English communication and documentation skills.
• EU citizenship is required for this position
  
  
  

Bonus Points (Nice-to-Have)

• Proven experience in leading defence or dual-use R&D projects/programs (preferably in EU/NATO frameworks such as EDF, EDIDP, Horizon Europe, PESCO)
• Strong technical background in cyber, AI, digital engineering, or systems integration
• Strategic thinker with delivery-focused execution skills
• Bachelor's degree (or higher) in a relevant field (Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline)
• Project Management certification (PMP, Prince 2, or equivalent)
• ITIL Certification
  
  
  

Why join Nortal?

• We hire people not only for their skills but also for cultural add. We live by our values: we commit to delivering value and results, take ownership, empower ourselves and others, and own our future and growth. Alongside our professionalism, we like to add a touch of good humor.
• We are committed to your growth and development. At Nortal, we support continuous improvement and knowledge sharing through Learning Hives, internal and external training, dedicated time for self-learning, a mentorship program, and a strong 1:1 culture.
• We prioritize your health and well-being by offering a flexible package for health insurance and sports initiatives.
• We support your work-life balance with flexible working hours.
• It’s your choice whether you want to work from the office or remotely. With our Work From Anywhere program, you have the freedom to work where you perform best. For those eager to explore, our Nortal Nomad program enables short-term relocation to another country.
  
  
  

Curious? Let’s talk!